MacBook Pro Comparison: M4 Pro vs. M3 Pro vs. M2 Pro vs. M1 Pro—Which One Wins?

After putting Apple’s latest MacBook Pro lineup through real-world tests, benchmarks and comparison, I’m here to break down how the M4 Pro, M3 Pro, M2 Pro, and M1 Pro stack up against each other. If you’re considering upgrading—or wondering if you should save some cash on an older model—this guide will help you decide.

What’s New in the M4 Pro?

At first glance, the M4 Pro doesn’t look too different from its predecessors. It still has the sleek grey aluminium shell and weighs 3.5 pounds (for the 14-inch model). But Apple has made some key improvements:

• Better Webcam: The M4 Pro now has a 12MP Center Stage camera that follows movement.
• Brighter Display: The M4 Pro screen hits 1,000 nits, making it easier to see outdoors. The M3 Pro gets a boost too, going from 500 nits (M2 & M1 Pro) to 600 nits for SDR content.
• Nano-Texture Option: A $150 matte screen upgrade is available for reducing glare.
• Thunderbolt 5 Support: The M4 Pro supports faster speeds and multiple 5K monitors.

Pricing: Is the M4 Pro Worth It?

Apple no longer sells the M3 Pro, M2 Pro, or M1 Pro brand new, so you’ll have to look for them in the refurbished or used market.

• M4 Pro (Base Model – 14-inch): INR 1,62,990 [Best Buy]
  • 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD
• M4 Pro (Upgraded Model – 14-inch): INR 1,91,990 [Best Buy]
  • 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD
• M4 Pro (16-inch Model): INR 2,39,990 [Buy from here]
  • 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD

Upgrades get expensive quickly. Adding more RAM or storage can cost $200–$400 per step, which still feels overpriced in 2024.

SSD Speed: M4 Pro Takes the Crown

Apple’s SSD performance remains top-notch, but there are big differences:

• M4 Pro (2TB SSD): 6,728 MB/s (read) | 7,490 MB/s (write)
• M3 Pro (512GB SSD): 5,066 MB/s | 4,209 MB/s
• M2 Pro (512GB SSD): 3,452 MB/s | 2,930 MB/s (Much slower)
• M1 Pro (1TB SSD): 5,367 MB/s | 5,311 MB/s

The M2 Pro is the slowest here because it uses fewer NAND storage chips, limiting performance. That said, in everyday use, the difference isn’t that noticeable unless you’re handling large files constantly.

Performance Breakdown: CPU & GPU

CPU Comparison

Apple has boosted CPU power significantly with each new chip.

• M4 Pro beats the M3 Pro by 57% in multi-core tasks and runs at 4.5GHz (compared to 4.05GHz for M3 Pro).
• The M1 Pro is now nearly 2.7x slower in Cinebench tests.

GPU Comparison

Apple has pushed massive GPU upgrades in the M4 Pro:

• The M4 Pro’s GPU is 72% faster than the M1 Pro.
• Hardware-accelerated ray tracing is twice as fast as the M3 Pro.

Real-World Performance: How Fast Is the M4 Pro?

Gaming Benchmarks

The M4 Pro leads in gaming, but macOS game optimization is still catching up.

• Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, highest settings)

  • M4 Pro: 81 FPS
  • M3 Pro: 48 FPS
  • M2 Pro: 54 FPS
  • M1 Pro: 44 FPS

• GFXBench Aztec Ruins (1440p Off-Screen)

  • M4 Pro: 234 FPS
  • M3 Pro: 178 FPS
  • M2 Pro: 179 FPS
  • M1 Pro: 144 FPS

Xcode & Logic Pro Performance

For developers and music producers, the M4 Pro offers huge improvements.

• Xcode (Firefox Build Time)

  • M4 Pro: 10m 53s
  • M3 Pro: 12m 16s
  • M2 Pro: 13m 10s
  • M1 Pro: 16m 16s

• Logic Pro (Max Audio Tracks)

  • M4 Pro: 286 tracks
  • M3 Pro: 202 tracks
  • M2 Pro: 203 tracks
  • M1 Pro: 181 tracks

Video Editing & Photo Editing

The M4 Pro excels at video and photo tasks, thanks to better memory bandwidth (273GB/s).

• Lightroom Classic (Export 100 RAW images)

  • M4 Pro: 1m 34s
  • M3 Pro: 1m 40s
  • M2 Pro: 2m 24s
  • M1 Pro: 2m 14s

• HandBrake (4K to 1080p Video Transcoding)

  • M4 Pro: 2m 48s
  • M3 Pro: 4m 44s
  • M2 Pro: 5m 13s
  • M1 Pro: 5m 00s

Battery Life: Is It Getting Better?

Surprisingly, battery life remains similar across models.

• M4 Pro: ~18 hours
• M3 Pro: ~17 hours
• M2 Pro: ~17 hours
• M1 Pro: ~16 hours

The M4 Pro’s efficiency cores help extend battery life, but real-world use still depends on workload.

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

If speed and future-proofing matter, go for the M4 Pro. But if you find an M3 Pro at a discount, it’s still an excellent choice.